Hattori Gakuen Educational Foundation (OCHABI) Redefines Creativity Education on its 70th Anniversary
Hattori Gakuen Educational Foundation announces a redefinition of creativity education coinciding with its 70th anniversary, returning to its founding principles. To move away from competitive metrics in the art preparatory school industry, Ochanomizu Art Institute will cease publicizing successful admission numbers, emphasizing essential learning and social contribution.
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Hattori Gakuen Educational Foundation (located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Hajime Hattori) has decided to return to the founding principles and the educational origins envisioned by its founders, coinciding with its 70th anniversary. We hereby announce the full outline of this initiative.
Firstly, our foundation was established by two individuals: Kotaro Hattori, a biologist, and his son Chikayuki Hattori, a human rights activist. From their respective differing viewpoints, they observed Japan within the world and continuously questioned "what it means to be human" and "what society is." At the core of this father-son duo's philosophy was a remarkably simple yet essential phrase, also the foundation's motto: "Let's Observe Well."
In post-war Japan, which they "observed well," while the richness of daily life was being recovered, the richness of sensibility was gradually being lost. Therefore, Kotaro, the biologist, agreed to foster through art a fieldwork approach—where one stands on site and discovers value based on experiences gained there—and Chikayuki, the human rights activist, agreed to foster a liberal arts approach—where one trusts one's own sensibilities to judge the value of things while respecting diverse values. They transformed their private residence in Ochanomizu into a place for creativity education.
However, in recent years, the art education field has excessively prioritized indicators such as technical acquisition and academic advancement results. As a result, the evaluation of the "creative process" itself, which begins with fieldwork, for example, has significantly regressed.
Particularly within the entire art preparatory school industry, an endless competition over tuition discounts and ostentatious displays of successful admission numbers has become prevalent, highlighting a tendency for numerical outcomes to take precedence over educational quality. Our foundation has determined that this situation is precisely what distorts education.
Given this background, Hattori Gakuen has decided that Ochanomizu Art Institute will cease publicizing successful admission numbers starting this academic year. This is not merely a change in public relations policy but a deliberate decision to detach education from "competitive metrics." By ceasing the publication of admission numbers, our foundation aims to liberate its education from the framework of numerical comparison and competition, thereby disengaging from an industry structure that encourages comparison with other schools.
Our foundation believes that advancement is not necessarily about reaching difficult schools, but rather that there is value in respecting diversity and allowing learners to pursue the paths they choose themselves.
Here, we introduce the educational policies of each institution:
- Ochanomizu Art Institute
Returning to its founding vision and considering the current situation where art universities are increasingly emphasizing comprehensive selection methods, we redefine entrance exam guidance as education that "learns art as liberal arts."
Based on the spirit of "Let's Observe Well" which encourages questioning from the field, we cultivate "creativity" rooted in reality. We will strengthen our function as a creativity education institution by managing curriculum centered on acquiring "question-setting ability" and "decision-making ability," which are indispensable in an era of advanced information and technology.
Furthermore, starting this academic year, the publication of successful admission numbers will be abolished.
- Ochanomizu Art Professional School
Towards the realization of a circular economy, we redefine vocational education by implementing problem-based learning (PBL) that integrates art, design, marketing, and science.
To enable students to holistically understand sustainability and economic activity without separation, we will position like-minded companies and organizations as stakeholders and collaborate with them, creating an environment where society fosters students. Through these activities, we will solidify our function as an educational institution that pursues a sustainable world.
- Art Gym
We redefine art not as a privilege but as a cultural foundation open to all people.
Centering on the creation of an environment where anyone can participate in creative activities regardless of age, occupation, or experience, we redesign lifelong learning that encourages a transformation and departure from structures that consume or diminish culture itself. As a place where creativity is continuously updated across generations, we support the internal value creation of individuals and evolve into an educational institution that "creates culture" through visualization and is responsible for its dissemination.
Our foundation is a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the Japan Circular Economy Partnership (J-CEP), endorsing their philosophies and promoting education aimed at realizing a sustainable environment and society.
Originally, education should not be subordinate to market or policy demands; it should be an endeavor where learners create value themselves and take responsibility for the future. In recent years, even here in Japan, there has been a strong tendency to disregard culture, prioritizing efficiency and cost reduction even at the expense of its disappearance. However, while this may yield short-term results, the richness of human sensibility will once again be lost. And it has been proven worldwide that it is difficult to build sustainable peace in a society where culture is neither created nor developed.
Our foundation, even if social and policy environments change,
Firstly, our foundation was established by two individuals: Kotaro Hattori, a biologist, and his son Chikayuki Hattori, a human rights activist. From their respective differing viewpoints, they observed Japan within the world and continuously questioned "what it means to be human" and "what society is." At the core of this father-son duo's philosophy was a remarkably simple yet essential phrase, also the foundation's motto: "Let's Observe Well."
In post-war Japan, which they "observed well," while the richness of daily life was being recovered, the richness of sensibility was gradually being lost. Therefore, Kotaro, the biologist, agreed to foster through art a fieldwork approach—where one stands on site and discovers value based on experiences gained there—and Chikayuki, the human rights activist, agreed to foster a liberal arts approach—where one trusts one's own sensibilities to judge the value of things while respecting diverse values. They transformed their private residence in Ochanomizu into a place for creativity education.
However, in recent years, the art education field has excessively prioritized indicators such as technical acquisition and academic advancement results. As a result, the evaluation of the "creative process" itself, which begins with fieldwork, for example, has significantly regressed.
Particularly within the entire art preparatory school industry, an endless competition over tuition discounts and ostentatious displays of successful admission numbers has become prevalent, highlighting a tendency for numerical outcomes to take precedence over educational quality. Our foundation has determined that this situation is precisely what distorts education.
Given this background, Hattori Gakuen has decided that Ochanomizu Art Institute will cease publicizing successful admission numbers starting this academic year. This is not merely a change in public relations policy but a deliberate decision to detach education from "competitive metrics." By ceasing the publication of admission numbers, our foundation aims to liberate its education from the framework of numerical comparison and competition, thereby disengaging from an industry structure that encourages comparison with other schools.
Our foundation believes that advancement is not necessarily about reaching difficult schools, but rather that there is value in respecting diversity and allowing learners to pursue the paths they choose themselves.
Here, we introduce the educational policies of each institution:
- Ochanomizu Art Institute
Returning to its founding vision and considering the current situation where art universities are increasingly emphasizing comprehensive selection methods, we redefine entrance exam guidance as education that "learns art as liberal arts."
Based on the spirit of "Let's Observe Well" which encourages questioning from the field, we cultivate "creativity" rooted in reality. We will strengthen our function as a creativity education institution by managing curriculum centered on acquiring "question-setting ability" and "decision-making ability," which are indispensable in an era of advanced information and technology.
Furthermore, starting this academic year, the publication of successful admission numbers will be abolished.
- Ochanomizu Art Professional School
Towards the realization of a circular economy, we redefine vocational education by implementing problem-based learning (PBL) that integrates art, design, marketing, and science.
To enable students to holistically understand sustainability and economic activity without separation, we will position like-minded companies and organizations as stakeholders and collaborate with them, creating an environment where society fosters students. Through these activities, we will solidify our function as an educational institution that pursues a sustainable world.
- Art Gym
We redefine art not as a privilege but as a cultural foundation open to all people.
Centering on the creation of an environment where anyone can participate in creative activities regardless of age, occupation, or experience, we redesign lifelong learning that encourages a transformation and departure from structures that consume or diminish culture itself. As a place where creativity is continuously updated across generations, we support the internal value creation of individuals and evolve into an educational institution that "creates culture" through visualization and is responsible for its dissemination.
Our foundation is a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the Japan Circular Economy Partnership (J-CEP), endorsing their philosophies and promoting education aimed at realizing a sustainable environment and society.
Originally, education should not be subordinate to market or policy demands; it should be an endeavor where learners create value themselves and take responsibility for the future. In recent years, even here in Japan, there has been a strong tendency to disregard culture, prioritizing efficiency and cost reduction even at the expense of its disappearance. However, while this may yield short-term results, the richness of human sensibility will once again be lost. And it has been proven worldwide that it is difficult to build sustainable peace in a society where culture is neither created nor developed.
Our foundation, even if social and policy environments change,